Aside

I am a quantiative invasion entomologist specializing in experimental design, statistical inference, communication, and teaching. I am seeking a data scientist role which makes use of my experience managing complex ecological projects, collaborating across disciplines with varied stakeholders, and connecting my analysis to practical management outcomes.

Contact

Skills

Supervised and unsupervised machine learning
Experimental design and inference
Bayesian and Frequentist statistical methods
R Programming
R Shiny Dashboards
git & GitHub
High Performance Computing with R
Basic Python
Basic SQL

Main

Jacob Wittman

Projects

Evaluating anisotropy in the spread of emerald ash borer (PhD)

University of Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

Current - 2019

  • Modeled the spread of emerald ash boerer across North America using generalized additive models and simultaneous autoregressive models.
  • Model predictions will be used by managers in North America to assess when emerald ash borer will spread to their communities and plan management tactics accordingly.

Estimating the range of attraction of a sex-pheromone used in traps to detect emerald ash borer (PhD)

University of Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

2021 - 2018

  • Designed experiments using novel trapping arrangement and analyzed data with non-linear Bayesian regression to determine the attraction radius of a sex pheromone was 90 feet.
  • Communicated results at two international conferences, one of which was awarded a President’s Prize for best graduate student presentation, and in a peer-reviewed journal article.
  • Results are used by invasive species managers to deploy efficient trapping networks in ports and cities globally.

Forecasting overwintering mortality of a biological control agent in North America (PhD)

University of Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

2020 - 2018

  • Assessed the cold tolerance of a parasitic wasp used via laboratory and field experiments.
  • Forecasts of overwintering mortality of this wasp across the USA and Canada using generalized estimating equations will be used for targeting effective release locations.

Determining the efficacy of regulatory requirements on limiting the spread of Lymantria dispar (MSc)

University of Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

2018 - 2016

  • Evaluated the efficacy of regulatory requirements in lumber yards designed to reduce the spread of the invasive moth Lymantria dispar through careful experimentation.
  • Demonstrated evidence from generalized linear regression and Monte Carlo simulations to regulatory bodies that current requirements were sufficient to reduce inadvertent movement of this insect.

Education

Made with the R packages pagedown and datadrivencv.

Last updated on 2021-12-03.

PhD., Entomology (graduate minor Biostatistics)

University of Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

Current - 2018

M.S., Entomology

University of Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

2018 - 2016

B.S., Biology, Environmental Studies (minor Secondary Education)

Luther College

Decorah, IA

2012 - 2008

Publications

These are a selection of first-authored publications. For a complete list of publications, presentations, and posters please visit my full CV at my website.

Forecasting overwintering mortality of Spathius galinae in North America

Biological Control 160: 104694

N/A

2021

J. Wittman, B. Aukema, J. Duan, and R. Venette

Optimizing early detection strategies: defining the effective attraction radius of attractants for emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire

Agricultural and Forest Entomology 23(4): 527 – 535.

N/A

2021

J. Wittman, P. Silk, K. Parker, and B. Aukema

A guide and toolbox to replicability and open science in entomology.

Journal of Insect Science 20(3): 1 – 9.

N/A

2020

J. Wittman and B. Aukema

Foliage type and deprivation alters the movement behavior of late instar European gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)

Journal of Insect Behavior 32(1): 25 – 37.

N/A

2019

J. Wittman and B. Aukema

Characterizing and simulating the movement of late-instar gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) to evaluate the effectiveness of regulatory practices

Environmental Entomology 48(3): 496 - 606.

N/A

2019

J. Wittman, R. Nicoll, S. Myers, P. Chaloux, and B. Aukema




Selected Teaching Experience

Being a teacher made me a better communicator. I learned effective strategies for delivering technical material to non-technical audiences. Working with diverse groups of students over my teaching career helped me understand the importance of empathy to build constructive learning communities.

Private R and Statistics Tutor

Online

Wyzant Tutoring

Current - 2019

Science Teacher (7 - 12 grade)

DREAM Technical Academy

Willmar, MN

2016 - 2014